Here are the biggest local planning stories from the past couple of weeks.

Floating Restaurant

A new floating restaurant could soon open on the River Thames in South London. Turks Launches, which runs daily boat trips along the Thames, wants permission to open a new café and restaurant in a boat known as The Aphrodite, which is moored at Town End Pier in Kingston town centre.

The venue would be a café in the day and transform into a restaurant serving booze in the evening. It would seat 64 people, with space for 40 people inside and 24 people across two outdoor decked areas, if Kingston Council grants its licence.

Application documents said: "The aim is to bring together the traditions of the River Thames and the vibrant café and eating scene in Kingston upon Thames to create a comfortable, friendly and relaxing atmosphere down on the river."

Read the full story here.

New Homes Plan

Richmond Council has approved plans to convert an office building in Hampton Wick into three residential dwellings.

The application proposes "the change of use of the existing office building at Como House, Warwick Road from Class E (commercial, business and service) to three dwellings (Class C3)".

The floorspace in question is currently in use by two commercial tenants. The conversion subject to this Prior Approval will only be implemented once the existing tenants have relocated.

Read the full story here.

Pub's Refurb

A pub in Surbiton has closed for a month while it undergoes a refurb.

The Victoria, located on Victoria Road, will be temporarily closed from Monday, 25 August to 25 September.

Read more here.

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